Pope Francis Pope Francis expresses 'pain and shame' for clergy's sexual abuse of children ‘We commit ourselves to ensuring such things do not happen again’Pontiff’s Chile visit overshadowed by firebombing of nine churches Pope Francis gives an open-air mass at O’Higgins Park in Santiago on Tuesday. Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty ImagesPope Francis has admitted his “pain and shame” over the sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy on a visit to Chile which has been overshadowed by the firebombing of nine churches – allegedly by activists claiming a high-level cover-up. Speaking in Santiago in the presence of the Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet, legislators, diplomats and other officials, Francis asked for forgiveness. “Here I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some ministers of the church,” he said. One abuse survivor said Francis’s talk of “pain and shame” was not enough.

Source: The Guardian January 16, 2018 17:15 UTC